Plesiosauria indet

O’Gorman, José Patricio & Otero, Rodrigo A., 2023, Revision of the short-necked Cretaceous plesiosaurians from New Zealand, Comptes Rendus Palevol 22 (6), pp. 77-90 : 82

Plesiosauria indet .

MATERIAL. — NHMUK 36075 , part of a dorsal region comprising partial impressions of ribs and neural spines .

LOCALITY AND HORIZON. — Waipara River , South Island, New Zealand. Conway Formation, Maastrichtian ( Wilson et al. 2005; Fig. 1)

REMARKS

NHMUK 36075 was referred by Welles & Gregg (1971) to Polycotylidae based on their stout ribs, long transverse process, short centra and thick neural spines. None of these features are strictly diagnostic of Polycotylidae since these could also be observed in juvenile elasmosaurids. Additionally, Lydekker (1889: 121) mentioned that NHMUK 36075 was probably part of the same individual as NHMUK 36073 (partial coracoid) and NHMUK 36073a (partial scapula); the latter specimens are currently referred as Elasmosauridae indet. However there are not direct evidence ot the latter and therefore it is referred to Plesiosauria indet.